Dishwasher with improved spray apparatus

ABSTRACT

A dishwasher with an improved spray apparatus is provided. The dishwasher includes a washing tub having an upper and a lower dish rack supported therein. The spray system for the dishwasher includes a first spray member positioned below the lower rack for spraying liquid from a lower elevation to the lower rack, a second spray member positioned intermediate the upper and lower racks for spraying liquids from a higher elevation to the lower rack and from a lower elevation to the upper rack; and a third spray member positioned for spraying liquid from a high elevation to the upper rack.

Crabtree [75] Inventor:

[ DISHWASHER WlTH IMPROVED SPRAY APPARATUS Clarence Crabtree, Herrin, ll]. [73] Assignee: Fedders Corporation, Edison, NY.

[22] Filed: Aug. 23,1972

[21] Appl. No.: 283,060

[52] US. Cl. 134/176, 134/183 [4s] May 7, 1974 1,113,514 5/1968 Great Britain 134/176 Primary Examiner-Robert L. Bleutge Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Ryder, McAulay, Fields, Fisher & Goldstein 57] ABSTRACT A dishwasher with an improved spray apparatus is provided. The dishwasher includes a washing tub having an upper and a lower dish rack supported therein. The spray systemfor the dishwasher includes a first spray member positioned below the lower rack for spraying liquid from a lower elevation to the lower rack, a second spray member positioned intermediate the upper and lower racks for spraying liquids from a higher elevation to the lower rack and from a lower elevation to the upper rack; and a third spray member positioned for spraying liquid from a high elevation to the upper rack.

3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Domestic automatic dishwashers are generally designed to employ an operating cycle including a series of separate washing and rinsing operations during which time water and/or cleaning solution is admitted to the washing compartment, circulated therein, and then discharged from the machine. The washing solution and rinsing water is generally sprayed on the dishes in a plurality of sprayed streams under a pressure head provided by a pump mechanism. The dishes and utensils to be cleaned are supported on upper and lower racks and the streams must be directed at both racks.

In most cases, the water and washing solution enter the tub from the bottom, below the bottom rack and auxiliary distribution means are provided for distributing the water or washing solution to the upper rack.

In a typical prior art arrangement, a vertical tube extends upwardly through the lower rack serving as a spray tower to provide multiple washing levels within the diswasher; The tower is usually movable vertically under liquid pressure. In the extended position, the tower provides liquid to the upper rack and the dishes contained therein while in the retracted position, liquid is provided for thelower rack. Rotary arms are usually also provided on the tower to direct the liquid over the utensils within the racks.

While the prior art devices work satisfactorily, they are relatively complicated and hence require expensive components. Further, any breakdown can result in costly and time consuming repairs. Accordingly, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved spray system for a domestic dishwashing machine of the multi-rack type which is relatively simple in construction and yet provides liquid for efficient and sanitary washing and rinsing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above and other beneficial objects and advantages are attained in accordance with the present invention by providing an automatic diswashing machine of the type having an upper rack anda lower rack with an improved multiple spray structure. The spray structure includes first spray means mounted below the lower rack for supplying liquid under pressure from a lower elevation to the dishes and utensils in the lower rack, second spray means mounted intermediate the upper and lower rack for supplying liquid under pressure from a higher elevation to the dishes and utensils in the lower rack and from a lower elevation to the dishes and utensils in the upper rack and third spray means mounted above the upper rack for supplying liquid under pressure to the dishes and utensils in the upper rack.

The third spray means includes a generally conically shaped plate mounted for rotation above the upper rack. A tank connected to the dishwasher pump is mounted above the plate and includes at least one nozzle directed at fins mounted on the upper surface of the plate. The tank is adapted to supply liquid under pressure against the fins sufficient to cause rotation of the plate. The second spray means is mounted to the upper rack for horizontal rotation below the upper rack. The tank also includes an opening adapted to permit liquid total] from the tank to the second spray means with sufiicientreaction force to cause rotation. There is no direct connection between the tank and second spray means or between the third spray means and upper rack thereby permitting easy movement and removal of the upper rack.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 isa side elevational view partly in section depicting an improved dishwasher incorporating the multiple spray structure of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational sectional view of the second and third spray :means of the present multiple spray structure;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary 'plan view taken along reference lines 3-3 of FIG. 2 in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational sectional view taken along reference lines 4-4 of FIG. 3 in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the conical plate comprising the third spray means taken in the direction of reference lines 5-5 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 5 in the direction of the arrows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings wherein the present invention is illustrated and wherein the various components bear the same reference numeral throughout the several views. Reference is first made to FIG. 1 wherein a dishwasher l0 incorporating the multiple spray structure of the present invention is disclosed. The dishwasher 10 includes a cabinet 12 having a front 14, rear 16, top 18 and bottom 20. A tub 22 is supported within the cabinet with access to the tub being provided through front opening door 24. A lower dish and utensil receiving rack 26 and an upper rack 28 are provided. Both racks are of open wire construction with the wires covered with a suitable plastic coating in the standard manner. As shown, rack 26 is mounted on rollers 30 which ride in a suitable track 31.

p This arrangement serves to facilitate the loading and unloading of dishes and other utensils into the machine. The washer illustrated is of the portable type and, accordingly, is provided with suitable castors 33 to permit mobility. It should be appreciated that the present invention would be equally effective in a dishwasher of the permanent type.

The dishwasher is provided with a pump 34 and motor assembly 35 located in the base of the cabinet and suitable electrical and plumbing connections (not shown) are provided for the machine. A detergent dispenser (also not shown) is provided to enable mixing of the washing solution.

The multiple spray structure of the present invention includes three spray means located respectively below the lower rack, between the lower and upper racks, and above the upper rack. The first spray means 36 comprises a horizontally rotatable hollow arm 38 connected at its midpoint to an outlet: pump 34. The arm 38 includes a plurality of orifices 40 each directed upwardly to supply liquid from a lower elevation to the dishes and utensils in the lower rack. The term liquid as used throughout the, remainder of the application is meant to connote either rinse water or washing solution.

The orifices 40 are designed so that liquid discharging therefrom provides sufficient reaction force to rotate the spray arm. The design for such arms and the configuration of the orifices is well known and defined in the prior art. A section of pipe 42 extends between another outlet of pump 34 and a tank 44 mounted to the top 46 of tub 22 by bolts 48.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 6, it may be noted that a generally conical plate 50 is mounted to the bottom of tank 44 for horizontal rotation. To this end, the plate is supported in position by suitable bushings 51 which permit free rotation. Plate 50 is provided on its upper surface with a plurality of raised fins 52. As shown best in FIG. 2, tank 44 includes nozzles 54 the orifices of which are designed to direct streams of liquid against fins 52. The liquid discharging from the tank thereby causes rotation of the plate in reaction to the impinging liquid. It can be seen that as liquid is directed through nozzles 54 onto fins 52 the plate is caused to rotate and a combination of centrifugal and gravitational forces then drives the liquid in a spray pattern off the plate and onto the upper rack from a higher elevation.

Referring briefly to FIG. 6, it can also be noted that a passageway 56 extends through plate 50 along the rotational axis of the plate. Passageway 56 is open at its upper end 58 and its bottom end 60. The upper end 58 extends into the interior of tank 44 and the passageway thereby provides an additional outlet (in addition to nozzles 54) for the liquid within the tank.

A second reaction-type spray arm 56 is mounted'for horizontal rotation below the upper rack 28. Arm 56 is provided with orifices 58 to direct liquid downwardly from a higher elevation to the lower rack and orifices 60 to direct liquid upwardly to the upper rack from a lower elevation. Spray arm 56 is constructed in a manner similar to arm 36 and the orifices are designed in a conventional manner so that liquid discharging there from provides sufficient reaction force to rotate the spray arm. In this connection, spray arm 56 is mounted for horizontal rotation about bearing 62 and held in position by screw 64. The spray arm is mounted to wire 61 of the upper rack by bracket 63.

A container 66 is provided mounted to wire members (SI-comprising a portion of the upper rack 28. The container has an internal contour resembling an inverted cone with an open top end 68 in vertical alignment with passageway 56 and an opening 70 in its bottom 72 communicating with the interior of spray arm 56. As shown, the interior of container 66 cooperates with passageway 56 to provide a conduit for liquid to the intermedi ate spray arm 56.

In operation, liquid is supplied bypump 34 to the lower spray arm 36 and also to tank 44. The liquid is discharged from tank 44 onto the upper spray impeller 50 and also to the intermediate spray arm 56. In each case, the spray means 36, 50 and 56 rotates in response 4 to the liquid and thereby directs the liquid onto the dishes and utensils contained within the machine.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed 1. In an automatic diswhasher machine of the type including a washing tub, a pump, a lower dish rack supported in said tub and an upper dish rack supported in said tub above said lower rack, the improvement comprising:

a multiple spray structure for said racks including a first spray means mounted in said tub below said lower rack for supplying liquid under pressure from a lower elevation to said lower dish rack;

second spray means mounted in said tub intermediate said upper and lower racks for supplying liquid under pressure from a higher elevation to said lower rack and from a lower elevation to said upper rack, said second spray means including a horizontally rotatable spray member positioned below said upper rack, said member including a hollow arm having orifices directed upwardly at said upper rack and downwardly at said lower rack;

third spray means mounted above said upper rack for supplying liquid under pressure to said upper rack from a higher elevation, said third spray means comprising a generally conically shaped plate mounted for horizontal rotation about ,said upper rack, fin means affixed to the upper surface of said plate, nozzle means directed at said fin means and pipe means interconnecting said nozzle and said pump, said pump supplying liquid under sufficient pressure to said nozzle so that the discharge from said nozzle against said fins causes said plate to rotate; and

means for supplying liquid to said first, second, and

third spray means, said means including a pipe terminating at one end at said pump and at the opposite end in a tank mounted to said tub above said upper rack, said tank including surfaces defining said nozzle means.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 further comprising passageway means extending from said tank through said plate in alignment with the rotational axis of said second spray means horizontal arm.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 2 wherein said second spray means hollow arm is affixed to said upper rack and further comprising a container extend ing upwardly from said second spray means hollow arm through said upper rack disposed about the axis of rotation of said second arm and in vertical alignment with said passageway, said container having an open top end spaced below the bottom of said plate whereby there is no direct connection between said container and said pump and a closed bottom end including an opening therein in communication with the interior-of said second arm.

i l t 4 I Attest:

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 309 10 Dated May 7 1974 lnven fl lllarence Crabtree It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:-

Assignee' s address is incorrect. "N.Y." should be changed to --N.J.--.

Signed and sealed this 24th day of September 1974.

(SEAL) ,McCOY M. GIBSON JR. 0. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents PC4050 (10459) USCOMM-DC scans-pee UIS. GO VERNMEHT PRINTING OFFICE: ISIS O-J6G-3J| 

1. In an automatic diswhasher machine of the type including a washing tub, a pump, a lower dish rack supported in said tub and an upper dish rack supported in said tub above said lower rack, the improvement comprising: a multiple spray structure for said racks including a first spray means mounted in said tub below said lower rack for supplying liquid under pressure from a lower elevation to said lower dish rack; second spray means mounted in said tub intermediate said upper and lower racks for supplying liquid under pressure from a higher elevation to said lower rack and from a lower elevation to said upper rack, said second spray means including a horizontally rotatable spray member positioned below said upper rack, said member including a hollow arm having orifices directed upwardly at said upper rack and downwardly at said lower rack; third spray means mounted above said upper rack for supplying liquid under pressure to said upper rack from a higher elevation, said third spray means comprising a generally conically shaped plate mounted for horizontal rotation about said upper rack, fin means affixed to the upper surface of said plate, nozzle means directed at said fin means and pipe means interconnecting said Nozzle and said pump, said pump supplying liquid under sufficient pressure to said nozzle so that the discharge from said nozzle against said fins causes said plate to rotate; and means for supplying liquid to said first, second, and third spray means, said means including a pipe terminating at one end at said pump and at the opposite end in a tank mounted to said tub above said upper rack, said tank including surfaces defining said nozzle means.
 2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 further comprising passageway means extending from said tank through said plate in alignment with the rotational axis of said second spray means horizontal arm.
 3. The invention in accordance with claim 2 wherein said second spray means hollow arm is affixed to said upper rack and further comprising a container extending upwardly from said second spray means hollow arm through said upper rack disposed about the axis of rotation of said second arm and in vertical alignment with said passageway, said container having an open top end spaced below the bottom of said plate whereby there is no direct connection between said container and said pump and a closed bottom end including an opening therein in communication with the interior of said second arm. 